Chess: Bobby Fischer v Boris Spassky 1972 remembered at Reykjavik Open

Half a century on from 1972, the Bobby Fischer v Boris Spassky series in Reykjavik remains the most famous of all world championship matches. It triggered a global chess boom, not least in Britain where for a brief period a galaxy of talent made England the No 2 chess nation behind the Soviet Union.

Reykjavik has another tradition, its annual international open first staged in 1964 when the legendary Mikhail Tal outclassed the field with 12.5/13. The 2022 edition at the Harpa Conference Centre from 6-12 April has a tight schedule of nine rounds in seven days, zero Covid restrictions, and morning excursions which include a visit to Fischer’s grave.

There are no Russians or Ukrainians, few Americans, and the four top seeds are all from India. England has one of the largest contingents, 31, most of whom are amateurs rated below 2000.

GM Simon Williams is the leading English player, and Reykjavik will also test England’s most promising juniors. Jonah Willow, 19, of Nottingham, and Harry Grieve, 20, of Guildford, already have international master norms and are closing in on the title, while Shreyas Royal, 13, missed his first norm by just half a point at Ilkley last week.

Grieve also represents Cambridge in the annual varsity match, first staged in 1873 and the longest running annual fixture in world chess. This Saturday’s renewal at its traditional venue, the RAC in Pall Mall, London, will be online at chess24.com (12.30pm start).

GMs Michael Adams, Luke McShane and Gawain Jones were on top board for their German clubs when the 2022 Bundesliga season opened last week. All six games were halved, with the pick being McShane’s eventful draw with the new German star Vincent Keymer, 17.

Keymer looked superior with his mobile